CREATIVE MINDS LEARNING CENTER # 1

Creative Minds Learning Centers (CMLC) was founded by the Mckinster family in 1997 due to an overwhelming demand for high quality preschool programs.

Creative Minds operates seven eco-friendly and certified preschools and child development centers in the Portland, Metropolitan Area. Our schools are proud to offer media-free educational and healthy environments with the children's interests and parent's needs in mind. Creative Minds’ mission is to provide a progressive preschool program that helps foster life-long learning and developmental growth.

Creative Minds Learning Centers have been designed to encourage children to explore their interests in a creative and artistic setting. Certified with the State of Oregon and members of NAEYC, OAEYC, Oregon Environmental Council and other Early Childhood organizations, CMLC schools provide a progressive and positive environment for children, staff and families. Creative Minds has also been recognized as members of QRIS, selected as one of 25 Oregon Program of Quality schools and continues to be a leader in the Early Childhood Education field.

Our philosophy is to enrich children's lives with creative arts and accredited educational materials while developing self esteem, confidence and a sense of independence. While there are many approaches and "labels" for teaching young children, Creative Minds schools focuses on the basis of early childhood development being "trichotomized" into a trio of goals: (1) social/emotional development and (2) intellectual development and (3) the acquisition of meaningful and useful academic skills. Children are capable and willing to learn and naturally can begin to read at Pre-Kindergarten grade. It is our duty to guide the children during the day in a structured setting. The children depend on the security of a daily routine and come to school excited to see their friends and teachers.